WIT students present melodrama
Love, life, liquor
By Joanne Fox Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, May 09, 2008
David Flores and Chad Gaul rehearse a scene from "The Drunkard" at Western Iowa Tech Community College. (Staff photo by Jim Lee)
Students at Western Iowa Tech Community College will present a mid-nineteenth century play this weekend that was originally penned to examine the evils of Demon Rum.
"The Drunkard" is a "temperance play," that was designed to expedite the passage of nationwide Prohibition. Originally written by John Pierpont, a Unitarian minister and William H. Smith, stage manager at the Boston Museum where the play ran for 140 performances from 1844-45, "The Drunkard" was a serious show that attempted to illustrate the evils of Demon Rum.
Raymond Hull, author of "The Peter Principle" and "Sweeney Todd," adapted the original play in 1967 into lighter fare.
"There's an underlying theme that could apply today, but, in essence, it's an over-the-top lesson about temperance," said Paul Guggenheimer, director of the production.
The play focuses on how love battles liquor for the life and soul of the upstanding hero, Edward Middleton (Gene Boykin Jr.). On the side of love are innocent Mary (Cinda Vogt) and her ever-whining mamma, Mrs. Wilson (Maria Elena Herrera). Plying the liquor with dastardly intent are Lawyer Cribbs (Chad Gaul) and his crony, Stickler (David Flores).
"What I like about it is that it's one of those tried and true, good, old-fashioned approaches to theater," Guggenheimer said. "And because of that, audiences will respond to that today."
In the last year, WIT has incorporated the arts -- particularly drama -- into its curriculum. The college had provided drama and acting courses over the years as part of its electives, but not part of a two-year degree program. WIT now has a cooperative program with the University of South Dakota that will lead interested students into four different bachelor of fine arts majors.
"Much of the drive behind the drama program was a sold-out murder mystery dinner theater written by a Western Iowa Tech student," said Ralph Swain, chair of the humanities department at WIT. "That was followed by our success with the radio drama 'War of the Worlds' at the Orpheum Theatre that WIT spearheaded."
The old 44- x 48-foot machine shop area was transformed into the Black Box Theatre which the Great Plains Radio Theatre calls home. Although the murder mystery and the radio dramas used WIT students, in addition to community members, "The Drunkard" will be the first student-driven production in the performance space, Guggenheimer said.
"The play is a great vehicle for beginning acting students," he said. "For two of the actors, this will be the first time they have ever acted in a show."
In addition to the actors, WIT students are helping with the crew. Dawn Bobier is assistant director. Sibi Dossou is in charge of lighting. An art design and make-up team is the "Sister Act" of Katrina and Tristen Roeder. Those participating in the presentation are enrolled in the two-credit course Rehearsals and Performance, said Guggenheimer.
"The students have really embraced the medium of theater and worked very hard to put this together," he said. "They should be very proud of their efforts."
In fact the actors will almost "egg" the audience to be outraged or made to laugh out loud, Guggenheimer said.
"It's so campy that the audience will have a chance to react," he said. "This is just great fun -- for an audience to watch a melodrama."
"The Drunkard," a melodrama in two acts, will be performed at 7:30 p.m. May 9-10 at the Western Iowa Tech Community College Black Box Theatre. Individuals should park in Lot 4 and use Entrance 14. Tickets are $4 and available at the WIT bookstore or at the door.
"The Drunkard" is a "temperance play," that was designed to expedite the passage of nationwide Prohibition. Originally written by John Pierpont, a Unitarian minister and William H. Smith, stage manager at the Boston Museum where the play ran for 140 performances from 1844-45, "The Drunkard" was a serious show that attempted to illustrate the evils of Demon Rum.
Raymond Hull, author of "The Peter Principle" and "Sweeney Todd," adapted the original play in 1967 into lighter fare.
"There's an underlying theme that could apply today, but, in essence, it's an over-the-top lesson about temperance," said Paul Guggenheimer, director of the production.
The play focuses on how love battles liquor for the life and soul of the upstanding hero, Edward Middleton (Gene Boykin Jr.). On the side of love are innocent Mary (Cinda Vogt) and her ever-whining mamma, Mrs. Wilson (Maria Elena Herrera). Plying the liquor with dastardly intent are Lawyer Cribbs (Chad Gaul) and his crony, Stickler (David Flores).
"What I like about it is that it's one of those tried and true, good, old-fashioned approaches to theater," Guggenheimer said. "And because of that, audiences will respond to that today."
In the last year, WIT has incorporated the arts -- particularly drama -- into its curriculum. The college had provided drama and acting courses over the years as part of its electives, but not part of a two-year degree program. WIT now has a cooperative program with the University of South Dakota that will lead interested students into four different bachelor of fine arts majors.
"Much of the drive behind the drama program was a sold-out murder mystery dinner theater written by a Western Iowa Tech student," said Ralph Swain, chair of the humanities department at WIT. "That was followed by our success with the radio drama 'War of the Worlds' at the Orpheum Theatre that WIT spearheaded."
The old 44- x 48-foot machine shop area was transformed into the Black Box Theatre which the Great Plains Radio Theatre calls home. Although the murder mystery and the radio dramas used WIT students, in addition to community members, "The Drunkard" will be the first student-driven production in the performance space, Guggenheimer said.
"The play is a great vehicle for beginning acting students," he said. "For two of the actors, this will be the first time they have ever acted in a show."
In addition to the actors, WIT students are helping with the crew. Dawn Bobier is assistant director. Sibi Dossou is in charge of lighting. An art design and make-up team is the "Sister Act" of Katrina and Tristen Roeder. Those participating in the presentation are enrolled in the two-credit course Rehearsals and Performance, said Guggenheimer.
"The students have really embraced the medium of theater and worked very hard to put this together," he said. "They should be very proud of their efforts."
In fact the actors will almost "egg" the audience to be outraged or made to laugh out loud, Guggenheimer said.
"It's so campy that the audience will have a chance to react," he said. "This is just great fun -- for an audience to watch a melodrama."
"The Drunkard," a melodrama in two acts, will be performed at 7:30 p.m. May 9-10 at the Western Iowa Tech Community College Black Box Theatre. Individuals should park in Lot 4 and use Entrance 14. Tickets are $4 and available at the WIT bookstore or at the door.
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